This year began—and too often continued—in sorrow.
From the earliest weeks of 2025, many of us felt a shift: antisemitic violence was no longer isolated or shocking, but persistent and normalized. Jewish schools and institutions required heightened security. College campuses became places of anxiety rather than inquiry. Families quietly weighed safety with celebration.
Each and every day the news keeps coming.
Just today, we were devastated by news from Israel: a car-ramming and stabbing attack in northern Israel that killed two people—68-year-old Shimshon Mordechai and 17-year-old Aviv Maor. We mourn with their families and stand with the people of Israel as they confront yet another act of senseless violence felt across our global Jewish community.
Earlier this month, we were shaken by the mass murder at Bondi Beach in Australia and an attempted arson attack at Hillel in San Francisco. A visibly Jewish man was stabbed in Brooklyn. And we learned that a survivor of the Parkland school shooting had lived through yet another act of mass violence at Brown University.
Behind every headline are full and deeply loved lives that ended in terror. Families are left with a hollow where love once lived. Communities are changed forever.
Among those murdered was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a beloved Chabad rabbi who gathered Jews at Bondi Beach because building visible Jewish life was not just his passion; it was his calling. He showed up because he believed Jewish presence, Jewish pride, and Jewish responsibility mattered.
We recognize that same devotion here in Greater MetroWest NJ. We see it in our rabbis, educators, and communal professionals who show up again and again—in moments of celebration and moments of fear. And we see it just as clearly in you: our lay leaders, volunteers, and donors who give your time, your resources, and your hearts to ensure this community is prepared, compassionate, and strong. We have felt your support all year long, and we are deeply grateful.
Which is to say: this has been an extraordinarily difficult year.
And yet—not only difficult.
In October, we experienced a moment of profound and hard-won joy with the release of hostages held in unimaginable conditions for two years. Their return reminded us that hope is not naïve—it is necessary. It reminded us that Jewish life is not defined only by what is done to us, but by our insistence on life, dignity, and responsibility.
When crowds call to “globalize the intifada,” we now recognize—clearly and tragically—what that means. Language matters. When calls for violence are normalized as political speech, the consequences are no longer theoretical.
As David Frum wrote in The Atlantic, “Symbolic violence is a rehearsal for actual violence.” We are past the point of pretending otherwise.
This moment asks more of us. It asks for moral clarity.
Antisemitism is not only a Jewish problem; it is a warning sign for society as a whole. History teaches us that when hatred of Jews is tolerated, democratic values are already at risk. This moment requires us to name what is happening, to refuse to make ourselves smaller to put others at ease, and to insist—clearly and unapologetically—that Jewish life belongs here, fully and without qualification.
And it requires action.
Through Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, that action has taken shape because people like you stepped forward when it mattered most.
Because of you, we strengthened security across Jewish institutions so families could gather with confidence. We expanded mental health and wellness supports for teens, college students, and adults navigating anxiety and trauma. We invested in Jewish education and identity—from PJ Library and early childhood education to Jewish day schools, camps, youth movements, and immersive experiences—so the next generation knows who they are and where they come from.
Because of you, we stood with Israel through emergency campaigns and enduring partnerships rooted in shared destiny. We deepened our Jewish Community Relations work, expanded advocacy and coalition-building, and continued to care for the broader community—supporting food security and vital social services—because our values demand it.
Before asking you to look ahead, we want to pause and say thank you.
Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for answering calls, showing up, checking in on one another, and believing in this community even when the year felt heavy. We do not take your support for granted—not for a moment.
Creating light is a conscious act. For millennia, Jews have chosen to kindle and protect it even when it was fragile, even when it was dangerous to do so. Today, we do that together—professionals, lay leaders, volunteers, and donors bound by shared purpose.
As this year ends and we step into 2026, we do so with clarity about the challenges ahead and confidence in the strength of this community. Thank you for walking with us as we continue to build a Jewish future defined by care, courage, and shared responsibility.
If you have not yet done so, please consider making your year-end gift today. Together, we are equal to this moment—and to the year ahead.